The Ship

The Brazil Maru was a Japanese transport ship used to move Allied prisoners of war late in World War II. It became infamous as the final leg of a deadly journey for survivors of previous hellship sinkings, including the Enoura Maru and Oryoku Maru.

The Voyage

In January 1945, the Brazil Maru carried the remaining survivors from Taiwan to Moji, Japan, in freezing winter conditions. The men, already weak from starvation, injuries, and disease, were crammed into unheated, unventilated holds. The death toll during the journey was immense—over 500 men died before reaching shore. For many, it was their final voyage.

“It was as if we were ghosts by the time we reached Japan. I couldn’t tell who was alive anymore.” — Pvt. Harold Stanwick, POW Survivor

The Aftermath

Those who survived the Brazil Maru’s passage faced further imprisonment and forced labor in mainland Japan. Many died shortly after arrival. Only a fraction would live to see liberation in August 1945. The Brazil Maru was later used as a livestock ship before being scrapped in 1946, but the memory of what happened aboard remains a symbol of wartime brutality.

Legacy

The Hellships Memorial stands in remembrance of those lost aboard the Brazil Maru and other unmarked prison ships. It is our duty to remember their suffering and sacrifice, and to ensure that such cruelty is never forgotten.

Related pages: Enoura Maru | About the Hellships